Roller structures with thread guards

ABSTRACT

It is well known that the operation of caster wheels or rollers is frequently impeded by the accumulation of threads between these rollers and a bifurcated support or horn normally used to support them. Such interference can be prevented and/or minimized through the use of guard structures on each of the sides of the roller. Such structures should be formed so as to have outer edges fitting in circular recesses in the sides of the wheel. Such a guard structure should, also, be formed so as to extend from such a recess to the surfaces of the legs of the horn remote from the wheel. Preferably the guard structure also includes a hook extending between it and such legs in the areas where the legs straddle the wheel.

United States Patent Kotzin, J r.

Apr. 2, 1974 [54] ROLLER STRUCTURES WITH THREAD GUARDS [76] Inventor:Bernard Kotzin, Jr., 7411 Flight Ave., Los Angeles, Calif. 90045 [22]Filed: Dec. 11, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 313,782

[52] U.S. Cl. 280/158 R, 16/41 [51] Int. Cl. B60s 1/68 [58] Field ofSearch 280/158 R; 16/41;

301/37 SC, 37 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,432,96610/1922 Chestnut 16/41 1,563,152 11/1925 Bowen 16/41 3,222,708 12/1965Butsch 16/41 2,742,663 4/1956 Meadows 16/41 3,127,190 3/1964 Thesmar280/158 R Primary ExaminerRobert R. Song [57] ABSTRACT It is well knownthat the operation of caster wheels or rollers is frequently impeded bythe accumulation of threads between these rollers and a bifurcatedsupport or horn normally used to support them. Such interference can beprevented and/or minimized through the use of guard structures on eachof the sides of the roller. Such structures should be formed so as tohave outer edges fitting in circular recesses in the sides of the wheel.Such a guard structure should, also, be formed so as to extend from sucha recess to the surfaces of the legs of the horn remote from the wheel.Preferably the guard structure also includes a hook extending between itand such legs in the areas where the legs straddle the wheel.

7 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTED APR 2 I974 ivwzv Q ROLLERSTRUCTURES WITH THREAD GUARDS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The presentinvention is primarily directed towards roller structures and morespecifically to so-called caster structures. Roller structures of thetype to which this invention pertains are widely utilized in hand trucksand a number of other different items for the purpose of supportingthese things so that they can be conveniently moved from one location toanother. It is considered that present-day roller structures areexceedingly advantageous and utilitarian for most applications.

However, when such structures are utilized in the garment and realtedindustries a problem has been encountered with them. This problemrelates to the fact that as known roller structures are used threadstend to adhere to the rollers for wheels used in them. As these rollersor wheels are turned, these threads tend to accumulate between thecommonly used bifurcated supports or horns for supporting these rollersor wheels and such rollers or wheels. Such accumulation in time tends toseverly impede normal roller or wheel movement. The obvious remedy forthis if, of course, to clean out any accumulation of such threads. Thisis undesirable because it tends to be both somewhat timeconsuming andsomewhat laborious.

A number of structures have been proposed in an effort to combat thisproblem of thread accumulation. Several such structures are shown in theprior U.S. Pat. No. 3,470,557 issued Oct. 7. 1969, entitled RollerStructure. While the prior structures shown in this patent and otherrelated structures are of a ultilitarian character it is not consideredthat they are as desirable from a commercial standpoint as they mightbe. The reason for this are considered to be unimportant to anunderstanding of the present invention. In spite of the existence ofthese prior structures it is considered that there exists a continuingneed for new and improved roller structures, and more specifically, forroller structures to be utilized in the garment and related industries.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A broad objective of this invention is tofulfill this need. Thus, the invention is intended to provide new andimproved roller structures and more specifically roller structures suchas are used in casters and the like which can be effectively utilized inapplication where there is a significant possibility of their operationbeing impeded or interfered with as the result of thread accumulation. Arelated objective is to provide roller structures which are constructedin such a manner that such accumulation is effectively prevented and/orminimized because of the nature of these structures.

A further objective of the invention is to provide roller structures asare indicated in the preceding discussion which may be easily andconveniently constructed at a comparatively nominal cost. The inventionis, also, intended to provide roller structures capable of prolongedreliable performance. The invention is further intended to provideroller structures which may be easily disassembled for servicing andrelated problems if such servicing should be required for any reason.

In accordance with this invention these objectives are achieved in aroller structure having a conventionally dish shaped wheel, a bifurcatedhorn or support having legs straddling the wheel and an axle supportingthe wheel by providing the improvement which comprises: a circularrecess located within each of the sides of the wheel and a guardstructure located at each of the sides of the wheel, each of the guardstructures having an outer edge extending in a path corresponding to thecurvature of the recess adjacent to it and extending into this recess soas to be spaced inwardly of the side of the wheel. Portions of each ofthe guard structures used extend from adjacent to their outer edges to asurface of an adjacent leg remote from the wheel. Preferably the guardstructures extend between the legs and the wheels and have what may bereferred to as a hook means extending across the space between the guardstructure and the adjacent leg.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The invention is best more fullydescribed with reference to the accompanying drawing since a summarysuch as the preceding is inherently incapable of indicating many facetsand features of an invention. In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a side-elevational view of a presently preferred embodiment orform of a roller structure in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken at line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view taken at line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a modified guard structure inaccordance with this invention;

FIG. 5 is a side-elevational view of a further modified guard structurein accordance with this invention;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken at line 66 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a partial side-elevational view corresponding to FIG. 1showing a further modified guard structure in accordance with thisinvention.

The accompanying drawing is primarily intended to indicate forexplanatory purposes several presently preferred embodiments or forms ofstructures falling within the scope of the inventive concepts verballyset forth and defined in the appended claims. It will be realized bythose skilled in the field of roller structures that these concepts maybe utilized in a number of somewhat differently appearing and somewhatdifferently constructed roller structures through the use of normalroutine engineering skill of ability.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In FIG. 1 of the drawing there is shown a rollerstructure 10 having a bifurcated support or horn 12 which is providedwith a conventional base 14 adapted to be mounted in an establishedmanner. This base 14 carries generally parallel legs 16 having ends 18located adjacent to and spaced from sides 20 of a generally dishshapedroller or wheel 22. This wheel 22 has an axis (not separatelyidentified) along which there extends a centrally located axial opening24 extending between the sides 20 and a conventional roller surface orperiphery 26. The wheel 22 may conveniently be formed out of aconventional hard rubber or related polymer composition in accordancewith established practice.

Preferably, but not necessarily, a metallic cylindrical bearing 28 islocated so as to fit closely within the opening 24. This bearing 28 isdesigned to rotate about a similar cylindrical bearing sleeve 30 locatedwithin it and within the opening 24. Within the structure a bolt 32extends through openings 34 in the legs 16 and through the sleeve 30 soas to serve as an axle for the wheel 22. This bolt 32 has a conventionalhead 36 and a conventional nut 38 which rest against surfaces 40 of thelegs 16 which are spaced from the wheel 22. This bolt 32 also extendsthrough centrally located openings 42 in guards 44 so as to clamp theseguards 44 between the legs 16 and the ends (not numbered) of the bearingsleeve 30.

These guards 44 are of a dish-like shape and have concave surfaces 46facing the sides of the wheel 22. these surfaces 46 terminate in outeredges 48 which extend into circular recesses 50 centered about theopening 24. These outer edges 48, thus, extend in a path correspondingto the curvature of the recesses 50. These outer edges 48 fit withinthese recesses 50 so as to be spaced inwardly of the sides 20. Theguards 44 are held between the legs 16 and the sleeve 30 so that thesurfaces 46 and the outer edges 48 do not bear against the wheel 22 insuch a manner as to impede rotation of this wheel 22.

Each of the guards 44 carries a number of fingers 52 which extend fromthe outer edges 48 so as to overlie the surfaces 40 of the legs 16.Preferably three of these fingers 52 are used as shown. These fingers52, thus, constitute portions of what may be regarded as complete guardstructures (not separately numbered) each of which constitutes one ofthe guards 44 and the fingers 52 carried by it.

The complete structure 10 also preferably includes what may be regardedas a hook means 54 extending from each of the guards 44 to in contactwith one of the legs 16. These hook means 54 are located generallybetween these legs 16 and the wheel 22 as shown. These hook means 54operate in conjunction with the fingers 52 as the structure 10 is used.

When this structure is used in an area where threads will tend to adhereto the wheel 22, such threads will be picked up by the periphery 26.Usually the majority of them will extend along the sides 20 as the wheel22 is turned. During such rotation these threads will be deflected awayfrom the wheel 22 by the fingers 52. These fingers 52 are located so asto extend generally from the recesses 50 in such a manner that suchthreads will not get between the sides 20 and the wheel 22 and theguards 44 during this rotation. As the wheel 22 continues to turn thisalone will tend to prevent thread accumulation which might interferewith the operation of the roller structure 10. However, some of suchthreads will be caught upon the hook means 54 so as to tend to be brokenoff in such a manner that the operation of the wheel 22 will not besignificantly interfered with.

In the structure 10 the fingers 52 are directly secured to the guards 44as by welding or other techniques. These fingers 52 may, however, beformed in other manners such as by bending back extending tabs 56 on aguard 58 as shown in FIG. 4 of the drawing. If desired, the guard 58used need not be of a complete circular dish shape, but can be of apartial dish shape as shown by the guard 60 in FIG. 5. This guard 60 isprovided with fingers 52 which are merely stamped out of its centralregion 64. If desired, the fingers 62 used can merely be wires 66extending from a guard 68 corresponding to the guards 44 previouslydescribed as indicated in FIG. 7 of the drawing. In the interest ofbrevity, all other parts in FIG. 7 are not separately indicated hereinand are designated in the drawing by the numerals previously used todesignate such parts.

I claim:

1. A roller structure having:

a generally dish-shaped wheel, said wheel having an axis, a centrallylocated axial opening extending along said axis, a circular peripheryand opposed, parallel sides,

a bifurcated horn having legs located with respect to said wheel so thatsaid legs straddle said wheel, said legs having ends located adjacent tosaid axial opening at both of the said sides of said wheel,

an axle extending through said axial opening and supported on said endsof said legs, said axle serving to rotatably mount said wheel upon saidhorn,

in which the improvement comprises:

a circular recess located within each of said sides of said wheel, saidrecesses being centered about said axis and being spaced from said axialopening,

a guard structure located at each of said sides of said wheel,

each of said guard structures having an outer edge extending in a pathcorresponding to the curvature of one of said recesses, said outer edgesfitting within said recesses so as to be spaced inwardly of said sidesof said wheel within said recesses,

portions of each of said guard structures extending from adjacent tosaid outer edges to a surface of one of said legs remote from saidwheel,

said guard structures being held by contact with said legs so as to beincapable of being rotated with said wheel,

said wheel being capable of being rotated about said axis with respectto said guard structures and said legs,

said guard structures serving to engage threads adhering to saidperiphery of said wheel during the use of said roller structure as saidwheel is rotated so as to deflect such threads so as to tend to preventtheir accumulation between said legs and said wheel.

2. A roller structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

portions of said guard structures extend between said legs and saidwheel.

3. A roller structure as claimed in claim 2 including:

hook means spaced from said axle located on each of said guardstructures so as to extend from each of said guard structures to againstone of said legs.

4. A roller structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

each of said guard structures includes an inwardly facing dish-shapedguard located between one of said legs and one of said sides of saidwheel, and deflectors secured to each of said guards and overlying thesurface of the adjacent one of said legs remote from said wheel.

5. A roller structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

each of said guard structures includes an inwardly facing dish-shapedguard located between one of said legs and one of said sides of saidwheel, and deflectors secured to each of said guards and overlying thesurface of the adjacent one of said legs remote from said wheel,

each of said guard structures includes a dish-shaped guard having acentrally located opening, said guards being located so that the concavesurfaces thereof face said sides of said wheel and so that said axleextends through said openings in said guards,

each of said guard structures also includes a plurality of deflectorssecured to the dish-shaped guard in said structure, said deflectorsoverlying the surface of one of said legs which is remote from saidwheel,

said whee] structure includes a bearing sleeve located around said axlewhich is not intended to rotate with said wheel,

the ends of said bearing sleeve engaging said guards so as to serve tomaintain the spacing between said guards so as to preclude said guardsfrom engaging said wheel in order to interfere with the rotation of saidwheel,

said axle is a bolt extending through said legs, said guards and saidsleeve, said bolt serving to hold the parts it extends through withrespect to one another so as not to interfere with rotation of saidwheel.

7. A roller structure as claimed in claim 6 including:

hook means located on each of said guards so as to extend between theguard upon which it is located to the adjacent one of said legs at oneof said sides of said wheel.

1. A roller structure having: a generally dish-shaped wheel, said wheelhaving an axis, a centrally located axial opening extending along saidaxis, a circular periphery and opposed, parallel sides, a bifurcatedhorn having legs located with respect to said wheel so that said legsstraddle said wheel, said legs having ends located adjacent to saidaxial opening at both of the said sides of said wheel, an axle extendingthrough said axial opening and supported on said ends of said legs, saidaxle serving to rotatably mount said wheel upon said horn, in which theimprovement comprises: a circular recess located within each of saidsides of said wheel, said recesses being centered about said axis andbeing spaced from said axial opening, a guard structure located at eachof said sides of said wheel, each of said guard structures having anouter edge extending in a path corresponding to the curvature of one ofsaid recesses, said outer edges fitting within said recesses so as to bespaced inwardly of said sides of said wheel within said recesses,portions of each of said guard structures extending from adjacent tosaid outer edges to a surface of one of said legs remote from saidwheel, said guard structures being held by contact with said legs so asto be incapable of being rotated with said wheel, said wheel beingcapable of being rotated about said axis with respect to said guardstructures and said legs, said guard structures serving to engagethreads adhering to said periphery of said wheel during the use of saidroller structure as said wheel is rotated so as to deflect such threadsso as to tend to prevent their accumulation between said legs and saidwheel.
 2. A roller structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein: portions ofsaid guard structures extend between said legs and said wheel.
 3. Aroller structure as claimed in claim 2 including: hook means spaced fromsaid axle located on each of said guard structures so as to extend fromeach of said guard structures to against one of said legs.
 4. A rollerstructure as claimed in claim 1 wherein: each of said guard structuresincludes an inwardly facing dish-shaped guard located between one ofsaid legs and one of said sides of said wheel, and deflectors secured toeach of said guards and overlying the surface of the adjacent one ofsaid legs remote from said wheel.
 5. A roller structure as claimed inclaim 1 wherein: each of said guard structures includes an inwardlyfacing dish-shaped guard located between one of said legs and one ofsaid sides of said wheel, and deflectors secured to each of said guardsand overlying the surface of the adjacent one of said legs remote fromsaid wheel, portions of said guard structures extend between said legsand said wheel, and including, hook means spaced from said axle locatedon each of said guard structures so as to extend from each of said guardstructures to against one of said legs.
 6. A roller structure as claimedin claim 1 wherein: each of said guard structures includes a dish-shapedguard having a centrally located opening, said guards being located sothat the concave surfaces thereof face said sides of said wheel and sothat said axle extends through said openings in said guards, each ofsaid guard structures also includes a plurality of deflectors secured tothe dish-shaped guard in said structure, said deflectors overlying thesurface of one of said legs which is remote from said wheel, said wheelstructure includes a bearing sleeve located around said axle which isnot intended to rotate with said wheel, the ends of said bearing sleeveengaging said guards so as to serve to maintain the spacing between saidguards so as to preclude said guards from engaging said wheel in orderto interfere with the rotation of said wheel, said axle is a boltextending through said legs, said guards and said sleeve, said boltserving to hold the parts it extends through with respect to one anotherso as not to interfere with rotation of said wheel.
 7. A rollerstructure as claimed in claim 6 including: hook means located on each ofsaid guards so as to extend between the guard upon which it is locatedto the adjacent one of said legs at one of said sides of said wheel.